shnitzler



Feb. 21, 1956 M 1 SHNITZLER 2,735,542

CONTAINER FOR SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 19, 1950 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'" f @MOM Feb. 21, 1956 M, 1 SHNlTZLER 2,735,542

CONTAINER FOR SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADES Filed April 19 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l afg.

nited States Fatent CONTAINER FOR SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADES Meyer J. Shnitzler, Brookline, Mass., assignor to The Gillette Company, a corporation of Delaware Application April 19, 1950, Serial No. 156,734

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-16) The present invention relates to razor-set cases or containers for housing safety razors and blades, and it relates more particularly to a new and improved container which in normal use will protect a fresh supply of unwrapped blades against corrosion from condensation of moisture introduced into said container by the wetted razor, and which is particularly well adapted for counter display purposes when associated with some suitable simple display rack.

Among the general objects of the present invention are the provision of a container for safe and elfective shipment, storage and between-shave housing of a razor and a supply of unwrapped fresh blades therefor; one which is particularly well suited for use by travelers; which is adapted for compact counter-display; which presents an attractive and ornamental appearance; and which may yet be produced at a low cost. Other objects will appear more fully from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

in one aspect, the present invention may comprise a molded plastic container or case having a tray or body portion, a cover portion hingedly connected thereto, and internal partition means integral with one of said portions and extending towards but terminating short of the material of the other portion to forni therewith, when the container is closed, two horizontally adjacent but separate chambers in communication with each other, one chamber being shaped to receive a razor and its walls comprising a principal surface for the condensation of any water vapor introduced into said container by the razor, and the other chamber being adapted to receive a supply of unwrapped fresh blades, as for example in a separate plastic dispenser, whereby said blades will be effectively protected against the condensation of corrosion-inducing moisture directly thereon despite the absence of complete isolation of one chamber from the other.

ln still another of its aspects, the present invention may comprise a container wherein the rear walls of the associated body and cover portions have a tongue and a slot which intert, at least when the cover portion is closed upon the body portion, thereby positively to prevent relative displacement of the cover and body portions longitudinally of the axis of their hinged connection.

For the purpose of illustrating the present invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred, since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

This application is a continuation in part of my earliertiled copending application Serial No. 91,069, filed May 3, 1949, later abandoned.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts: v

73554.? jPat'eted- Feb. 21, 1956 vice Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a container constituting one illustrative embodiment of the invention, shown in closed condition;

Fig. 2 shows the container of Fig. l in opened condition; the housed razor and blade-dispenser components being shown in dashed lines;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another container constituting another illustrative embodiment of the invention, shown in closed condition;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lower or body portion of the container shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 11 is a view showing the configuration of a removable anti-rattle member which may be provided in the dispenser compartment of the container for keeping the blade-dispenser from rattling during shipment.

The containers herein illustrated are constructed and arranged to accommodate a one-piece safety razor 15, of the type shown for example in U. S. Patent No. 1,956,175, and a blade-dispenser 16 containing a plurality of unwrapped blades, removable singly, for use with that razor. It is to be understood however that the containers of the present invention are not limited for use with razors or dispensers of the kinds indicated in dashed lines in the drawings, but are equally well suitable for use with onepiece or multi-piece razors or blade dispensers of different kinds; and indeed, if desired, such containers may also accommodate additional shaving articles such as shaving brushes, shaving creams, styptic pencils and the like.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, the container includes a tray or body portion 17 and a hingedly-connected cover portion 18, both of which may be molded from any suitable plastic material such as polystyrene, or the like; the material of the cover portion preferably being transparent so as to expose the container contents to View. The body portion 17 may be substantially rectangular in outline, and may comprise a bottom 19, a front wall 20, end walls 21 and 22, and a rear wall 23. ln the illustrated embodiment, the rear wall 23 is somewhat higher than the front wall 20, and the end walls 21 and 22 accordingly increase in height from front to rear. The body portion 17 includes an integral internal partition wall 24 extending upwardly towards, but preferably terminating just short of, the material of the cover portion 18 when the cover is closed. If desired, the partition wall 24 may terminate just short of an opposed, depending partition wall 25 which may be molded integrally with the cover portion l, as shown, for example, in Fig. 3. Partition wall 24 may be angled perpendicularly as shown, and divides the interior of body 17 into at least two article-receiving compartments 26 and 27. These compartments 26 and 27 are preferably designed and shaped .to receive the blade-dispenser 16 and the razor 15, respectively, the latter with its head portion in a predetermined location.

The handle end of the razor-receiving compartment 27 may include a short transverse web 30, spaced from and paralleling the end wall 22, and reinforced by a perpendicular web 31 extending therefrom to said end wall; both webs being notched snugly to locate and cradle the end of the razor handle. The dispenser-receiver compartnient 26 may include a pair of spaced dispenser-supporting webs 29 projecting from the inner surface of rear wall 23 and having forwardly and downwardly inclined edges to impart an inclined position -to the dispenser 15. Projecting upwardly from the rear wail 23 is a tongue 23 which extends into a complementary slot 39 in the cover portion, at least when the latter is closed.

The cover 1S may also be of substantially rectangular outline and includes a front wall 33, end walls 34 and'v 35', and a rear wall 36 all extending downwardly from the top 32. The cover 18 is shaped so that when closed down on body portion 17, its front and end walls 3.3-35 respectively meet and contact the body walls Zik-22 edgewise in a plane appreciably below the top surface 32 ot the cover, as shown in Fig.. l. End walls 21, 22 othe container body portion may be recessed' or shouldered inwardly at their rear ends, and cover 1'8.has downwardlyextending hinge-ears 3'7 fittingr the shouldered recesses so as to overlap the end walls in dat-wise relation, and pivotally connected with said end walls by pintles 38 integra-l with the latter and projecting into corresponding apertures in the hinge-ears 37 of the cover.

The upper and lower rear walls 36 and 23A of the container may terminate short of each other in the vicinity of the hinge line,y either along their entire lengths as shown in dashed lines. in Fig, 4 or at least in the region of the razor head location, so that the spaced edgesv of those wall portions will define openings venting the razor and blade. chambers, or at the least the former, to the atmosphere at a height substantially above the bottom of the container.

The rear wall 36 of the cover may be slotted or, notched at its lower edge as at. 39, to receive and intert, with the body tongue 28 thereby positively preventing relative displacement of the cover and body portions longitudinally of the axis of their hinged connection, and strengthening the container. It will be observed from Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings that the tongue 28 extends into closer proximity to the innermost edge of the slot 39 than the minimum distance between the juxtaposed edges of the upper and lower rear walls 36 and 23 which deiine the rear vent opening.

It desired, the cover 18 may also include integral downwardly-extending webs 40 and 41 for engaging the head and handleends of the contained razor 15, so as to hold that razor down securely in its cradle when the cover is closed.

A laterally projecting bevelled catch element 42, integralV with the body front wall 20, may coact with a complementary cover element 43v to lock the container in closed condition; the elements 42 and 43 being readily disengageable by virture of the inherent resilience of the container wall portions. The front wall area immediately below the catch 42 maybe externally corrugated for reinforcing the region where thumb pressure would normally be applied to open the container, and also to irnprove the ornamental appearance of the container.

Except in certain respects which will be treated more fully hereinbelow, the container embodiment shown in Figs. 5-11 is simiiar to and resembles the herein abovedescribed container embodiment shown in Figs. 1 4; and in that connection it will be understood that elements or portions of the second embodiment id'entiiied by nurnbers in the lOO series. correspond and are Similar to the like elements or portions in the first, embodiment, e. g. body portion 117 of the second embodiment corresponds to body portion 17 of the first embodiment, cover portion 118 corresponds to cover portion 18, and so on.

Externally, the container shown in Figs. 5-1l differs from the one previously describedprincipally in that the lower or body end walls 1.21, 122. bear externalV parallel locating-grooves 150, 151, and the. upper or cover end walls 134, 135 bear external parallel locating-grooves 152, 153; the said lower and upper locating-grooves being so disposed that, when the cover 11S isk closed, they are` in alignment with and form continuations of each other. The grooves, preferably of substantially uniform depth and extending across the full height of the container, are adapted to receive therein parallel correspondingly-spaced container-engaging portions of some associated counterdisplay rack or other outside structure to locate and tix the positions of the containersV With respect to said rack or structure. An example ot such associated rack is showninI cri-pending application Serial No. 167,801 tiled `J une 13, 195.0.

lnter-nall-y-, the` container shownin Figs. 5-11 dilers from the, previously described one,` among other respects, in that the internal partition wall 124 includes a central offset wall section. 15d upper edgeportions of which are somewhat higher than those of the adjacent regions of wall 124. This offset wall section 154 reduces the effective width of the dispenser-receiving compartment, thus suitingit for, the reception of a-blade-dispenser appreciably thinner than the one shown in, dashed lines in Fig. 2 and having different sidey wa1ls andk precluding; the possibility that such. thinner and different dispenser might tilt forwardly so as to interfere withl the closing of the container.. It will be noted that although there is no corresponding oisetin thev opposed cover partition wall 125, thus producing anappreciable gap. between those opposed partition walls, the container nevertheless adequately safeguards the fresh unwrapped blades against corrosion from condensate, as will presently appear.

The container shown in Figs. 5-11 also diiers from the previously described embodiment in that the body portion includes a web element 155 in the region designed to receive the head portion ofthe housed razor, to tilt the head portion for improved display particularly when the cover is formed of transparent material, and to facilitate withdrawal of the razor from the container. The container may also include another web 156 in the vicinity of therazor head portion to secure said head against undesired lateral movement.

If desired the cardboard or paper insert 157 shown in Fig. 1'1, the rear recesses 158 of which receive the opposite ends of a blade-dispenser placed edgewise in the compartment, may be included in the container to prevent the dispenser from rattling during shipment. The insert 157 may of course also bear printed matter, or it mayA be used for any other purposes for which it lends itself.

It, isa common practice today for razor users, at the end, of. a shave, tol loosen the blade-clamping elements of the razor and then rinse the stillk assembled razor and blade under the hot-water faucet and thereafter put the wetted razor and blade away until the next shave, all without bothering tor dry the parts or remove the blade between shaves. as one blade. is generally used for a plurality oi shaves. Indeed, leading razor and blade manufacturers recommend that their products be handled in such manner. Moreover even, in those instances where the user does open, his razor and remove the blade therefrom at` the conclusion of his shave, the razor alone is frequently rinsed under hot water andl then left to dryy in itsv container. It will` be readily appreciated that. the introduction, ofA such hotv moistl or wetted razor into a case or container, the cover of which is then closed, quickly creates in that container throughV the evaporation of moisture a very, humid, atmosphere, frequently having a relative humidity of as much as It is apparent that with such an, atmosphere, droplets of water will immediately deposit through condensation on any surrounding surface, such as blades, having a temperature below the dew point of that particular atmosphere. When articles such as. unwrapped fresh razor blades are exposed during storage to such humid atmospheres, there is created, a serious risk of corrosion of the lesser protected areas of those razor blades,l e., g., sharpened edges, unsharpened. end

portions, and the like, by reason. ot. the. moisture droplets` forming thereon, even though the blades may be adequately protected from the corrosive etlects of humidity alone.

The foregoing problem is readily overcome in the con tainer of the present invention by virture of the partition means dividing the interior of the container into separate adjacent chambers which are however in slight communication with each other along an edge of the partition means. One of said chambers is shaped to receive the wetted razor and its walls constitute a principal surface for the condensation of the added water vapor introduced into the container by said razor. Since the amount of water vapor which would ordinarily escape from the razor chamber through the slight opening or gap and pass into the adjacent blade chamber is insufficient to saturate the atmosphere in the latter chamber so as to result in condensation of corrosion-inducing moisture on the fresh blades, the latter are adequately protected against such corrosion even though the razor and blade chambers are not completely isolated from each other. This is a factor of considerable importance, particularly where the containers are made of molded plastic material, as it obviates the necessity of having to establish and maintain close manufacturing or molding tolerances, and to provide the closeness of t between assembled parts that would be essential for complete sealing of one chamber with respect to the other.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential atI tributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A case of molded plastic material for a safety razor set comprising a tray member and a hinged cover member each having front, rear and end walls, the end walls of said cover member having parallel apertured hinge ears that overlap the end walls of the tray member in flat-wise relation, the latter having pintles extending into the ear apertures pivotally connecting the cover member to the tray member, the juxtaposed edges of the rear walls of said tray and cover members being spaced apart to provide a venting gap, and interfltting tongue and slot means on said rear walls intermediate said hinge ears at a substantial distance therefrom, said tongue means extending into closer proximity to the innermost edge of said slot means than the minimum venting gap distance, and said tongue means further being of sutlicient width to afford it adequate stiffness in a direction perpendicular to the planes of said parallel hinge ears to safeguard Said ears against breakage which might otherwise result from a relative longitudinal displacement of said members.

2. A case according to claim 1 having partition means integral with the tray and cover members respectively and extending generally towards but terminating short of each other, dividing the interior of the case into two separate chambers in communication with each other along the edges of said partition means, each chamber also being in direct independent communication with the venting gap disposed between the edges of the rear walls of said members, one of said chambers being designed to receive a razor and its walls comprising a condensation surface for moisture introduced into said case by said razor when wet, and the other chamber being designed to receive an assembly of unwrapped fresh blades, whereby the latter will be protected aga'mst the condensation of corrosionincluding moisture thereon even though the blade chamber is in communication with the razor chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 144,533 Worley Apr. 23, 1946 1,490,973 Hodgson Apr. 22, 1924 1,516,775 McCarron Nov. 25, 1924 2,122,158 Segal June 28, 1938 2,200,399 Primas May 14, 1940 2,304,307 Hollis Dec. 8, 1942 2,371,557 Sullivan Mar. 13, 1945 2,375,645 Gordon May 8, 1945 2,422,051 Swanson June 10, 1947 2,460,427 Musselman et al. Feb. 1, 1949 2,460,488 Brunetti Feb. 1, 1949 2,508,951 Kazimier May 23, 1950 2,527,318 Magnus Oct. 24, 1950 2,569,072 Roberts Sept. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 288,826 Great Britain Apr. 19, 1928 296,861 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1928 

